Make Shavettes great (again?)

I bought a shavette early this year as an intro to straight razor shaving- to decide if I liked it before spending on a decent straight.
I bought from Barbarossa Brothers, who seem to target the barbershop market.
I enjoyed it a lot, used up 20 blades and decided to invest a straight.
I used the shavette again this week and it doesnt compare to a straight at all. I was instantly back to loads of little nicks, which I just don't get with a straight.
I certainly don't see them as lesser. I have a few stubborn areas that I struggle to get BBS with a straight still (still fairly new) and I can get these much better with a quick pass with the shavette at the end of a shave.
I do see them as very different. I get a much more comfortable shave with a straight, with none of the irritation, however it's maybe not quite as close in certain areas; (that's) probably down to technique though.
 
Snuff said:
IBC the Irvin Barber Company. If Manumik is who I think then he has succeeded in improving on it IMHO (impressions from test razors)

I owned many folding and non folding shavettes like Feather Artists (RG-SS-DX), Schick ProLine, KAI (captains, Excelia), CJB, Sam Seong, Kamisori and a whole bunch of shavettes that use half or whole DE blades or the long shavette blades. My favorites are still the Feather DX and Schick ProLine among those named.
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That's it. IBC. Only in regards to Shavettes.
I do not consider AC razors, Shavettes.

ibc.jpg
 
I have been using a Feather AC SS Folding for about a month now, I've probably got about 22 shaves on it. I bought it to see if I could master the technique of shaving with straight albeit with some differences from a proper straight. I've got to a point now where I am really pleased with my shaves and they are superior to the shaves I get from a DE in regards to closeness and comfort. I wasn't ready to learn how to strop and refresh but I think once I've got more experience with this wonderful razor I probably will make that step.
 
Sabre said:
That's it. IBC. Only in regards to Shavettes.
I do not consider AC razors, Shavettes.
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Yes, I'm aware of the IBC razor. I especially like the balance of those razors.
I also like that they offer more than one blade option.
 
I do not get a closer shave with my shavette or straight razor compared to for example my R41 DE, but I enjoy the experience more
 
If you keep getting nicks while shaving with a shavette your technique is most likely off, at least if you have a shavette of reasonable quality
 
seveneighth said:
Why not? What are they then?
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I'd say disposable blade straights. They follow the Japanese tradition of the kamisori, with small blade length.

I see shavettes as nape shapers. For hairdressing. There is a difference with razors that are designed for full face shaving, like the Feather AC (head shaving, too) or the vintage Weck or Durham Duplex; point being, these are straights that you can replace the blade on. As a point of fact, the frameback pioneered this, sometimes sold or supplied with a set of replacable blades or able to be replaced by a knife grinder (Engstrom, for example).

Shavettes that take a half DE blade were designed for shaping around hair edges, perhaps shaping beards and so on.

Anyhoo ... if you enjoy shaving with a shavette, carry on.
 
pjgh said:
I'd say disposable blade straights. They follow the Japanese tradition of the kamisori, with small blade length.

I see shavettes as nape shapers. For hairdressing. There is a difference with razors that are designed for full face shaving, like the Feather AC (head shaving, too) or the vintage Weck or Durham Duplex; point being, these are straights that you can replace the blade on. As a point of fact, the frameback pioneered this, sometimes sold or supplied with a set of replacable blades or able to be replaced by a knife grinder (Engstrom, for example).

Shavettes that take a half DE blade were designed for shaping around hair edges, perhaps shaping beards and so on.

Anyhoo ... if you enjoy shaving with a shavette, carry on.
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That's what we need... Someone to make an inexpensive frame back with set of blades... and offer it with a good honing service.

I am sure there is a factory in china that could churn out more reliable flat blades and make a frame back holder. That would surely be more consistent than trying to produce gold dollars with a ground geometry.
 
In my experience, the Shavette is more closely related to the Safety Razor than the straight razor. The shave with a straight razor is very different.

That said I do see a market for a good quality Shavette. I have toyed with the idea of making some good quality scales from New Zealand hardwoods and mating these with a good Shavette blade holder.
 
A nice design feature of a good quality shavette would be an adjustable pivot so when it comes loose with use no need to tap tap tap with hammer and it could also make room for replacable scales
 
I used to particularly enjoy this razor: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/community/index.php?threads/burmax-diamond-edge-de-5000.30452/

I'm not sure if it was designed as a shaper or a shaver. It shaved very nicely, though.

... and don't forget the Miraki: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/co...ads/miraki-shavette-dovo-blade-holders.30129/

... and for folks that want a really modern shavette/shaver: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/community/index.php?threads/jaguar-solingen-the-orca-orca_s.30063/
 
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